Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-06
THE DAY AFTER.
POINTS OF INTEREST ABOUT TIE RoA.
EoXR CONVENTION.
in the Platform Personal
and Other Notes.

self again. Very few visitors or dele
gates are left here. Many departed
last night and early this morning, and
the mass of the others went off at 9 A.
M. on the free excursion 10 tho Cripple |
Check mines. Mr. Barbour went along |
with the party, while Senator Daniel |
and Mr. GoOde and Phil. Mckinney
remained at the Hotel Roanoke, sitting
on its vine-covcrod porchcs calmly con-
icmplaiing from this place Of vantage
the blazing sun falling on grassy hills
and distant woods They have had
Richmond company in Captain Drink
ard, 1azewcll Elicit ". Sayres, Peter
Burton. II. VI. Cardwcll, james ID.
Patton, Meade Haskins, Colonel II. +.
Bcirnc, II. NJ Smith, Jr., Edward
Cummings, and James NJ. Dunlop.
Or. George =. Steel went part OF
The way with the excursionists and then
returned here and took in eastbound
train. Not many of our townsmen
joined the excursionists, nearly all
having engagements at home or to join
their families in the mountains.
A SUCCESS.
That the convention was a success is
conceded on all hands, and il is gene
rally remarked thatt speeches made
were as whole the best ever heard at
: tate convention.
The most decided advance that
the Democrats have made in their
platform is The plank which de
clarcs that in the future "the State
should provide for The INDECENT widows
Of soldier. who fell on the field of
battle or died from the effects of
wounds received in defence of the
State.
~TE DEBT FEATURE.
Tie debt feature, ms adopted, seems
to1cceiyc no objection, though mem
IeIs of lie legislative committee
would have been better salts
fled had their negotiations with
Thornton and Braithwaite been
approved. As il was that was omitted
from the fins; draft. and the resolution
as agreed to merely says on that point,
eve approve the action of the last
General Assembly at its extra session in
refusing 10 accept the terms proposed
ly the boudholdcrs" The truth is
that tLe Platform Committee was mn
willing 10 give oven quasi endorse
mont 10 any proposition which included
or hintCd at taX-rcceivable-cou
feature.
APPEALING TO TIE NATIONAL GOVERN
NENT.
Mr. Rarhour. Mr. Goodo, and Sena-
tor Dnnicl were of the opinion that no
lam could and much good might come
of appealing TO the National Govern
mont for compensation for Virginia's
uast Muu.hclnt concessions TO the Fed
tral Government, &c. But really the
delegates generally have no idea that
Congress Will help us. The United
States Government owes Virginia an
urO:suUtod debt which she won't pay
IL size lcyics upon us burdensome and
unnecessary taxes which she won't lift,
and il requires y very sanguine tenn
I,rment TO suppose that she will now
make us q donation. About the best
that tlo practical mind can hope for is
that Congress will guarantee our new
IS, which would cause the bondholders
10 fund into those securities at once.
Mr.. MAssEY's SUGGESTION.
As far as / could Judge there is a
widespread sentiment that the Legisla-
turc should adopt Mr. Massey's sugges-
ton and give emphatic notice TO the
loudholders that unless they pretty
soon accept the Riddleberger bill the
h.i will be repealed. In other words,
they must come in or the door will be
shut on them.
1t may have been an unintentional
omission. but If not, / am sure that 1t
is Lot a rcgretable one that civil service
Us not mentioned at all in the platform.
TEE FARMERS PLANK.
The plank plcdging the Democratic
PARTY to foster, encourage, md protect
the amicultursl interests OF Virginia,
and declaring that the success of tins
interest is the foundation of the States
proSpcritv was not what Colonel Bever-
lev's meeting here asked, butt was pre-
pared bv five farmers, members OF the
committee on platform and in cOnven-
ton, so far IS I know, received but one
opposing vote, that of eX-Attorney-Gen-
CTal Field. who voted against 1t because
be thought the plank vague and mean
inclCss.
Mr.. Henry l.. Carter, of Richmond,
was on the subcommittee which pre-
uared the labor plank, and / have no
doubt was influential III phrasing 1t.
A QUESTION.
In some Of the prints of the platform
that have seen IT seems matter OF
doubt whether the convention pledged
the party to foster the oyster orpledged
the oyster to foster the party; but in
the original the idea is plain that the
party will ice MI of It's power to protect
and to foster aud 10 develop for the
benefit of the people of Virginia the
languisling oyster interest Of the
State.
But little was said in the convention
about Malone. / believe that Mr..
Goode said more about him than did
INV one else. The General no longer
has power to terrify Democrats. They
do not despisc his ability and energy,
but they believe he can no longer com-
mand the men and money to carry his
cause 10 triumphant issue. Probably
lewlll hold no convention. In a few
days now doubtless he will be heard
from, either by an interview with some
favored correspondent or by letter.
A DIsaGRERABLE WHISTLE.
About the only disagreeable feature
of Eoanoke is the siren used AT the
railroad shops. This is "A s,eam-whlstle
invented 10 warn ships OF their APP
proach toward dangerous coasts. but
here employed to sound the working
hours Tor the hands. Ii has about 10
Geo times the power Of donkey, anda
voice OF about the same timbre. IT isap-
pnlliDa TO strangers when they hear 1t
first.andittakes months TO get used toit
II il sid that no ordinary whistle VIII
do. because there are so many locomo-
tiyes constantly blowing their whistles
in The town. For like reason bell
cannot wen be used. ! should think,
however, that some less soul.tearlng
substitute might be found. think the
otlar bcor n GREAT GUN